Love the new spot by Equinox, it breaks all the rules for the win. It’s too long, It’s too simple, says nothing about the brand and is bound to alienate somebody. I say good job… I watched the whole thing and it has been long enough since I lived in NYC that I almost...

As the in-house director of photography here at Corduroy Media, I thought it would be fun to break down some of my favorite frames from our films with a new series, A Story in a Frame. Ultimately the job of a DP is not just to make beautiful images, it is to make...

At Corduroy Media, we like to align ourselves with companies that share our values: giving back to the community, helping those in need, and generally doing good in the world. So we’re proud to have such a steadfast relationship and build an amazing client portfolio...

The Bay Area is the heart and soul of the tech industry. And as a San Francisco video production company, Corduroy Media works with a lot of tech firms. The work our clients are doing is groundbreaking – not to mention, really cool. Sometimes, it can be tough to...

As an integrated agency, we manage both the creative and production aspects of every video project we take on at Corduroy Media. This means we do the concept development, the scriptwriting, the casting, the location scouting, the shooting, the editing—you name it. And...

With so many San Francisco video production companies to choose from, it can be a challenge to find the right team to create high-quality, professional videos for your business. The truth is, there are a lot of shops out there that will be able to get you the look you...

At Corduroy Media, you hear us talk a lot about how much we love the collaborative aspect of filmmaking. So it makes sense that shoot days are right up there at the top of our list of favorite stages of the video production process. The Heffernan Insurance...

How Location Helps Us Tell Impactful Stories in Video Production We have all heard the old adage; location, location, location … usually applied to retail or real estate. Well, we think it rings true for creative video production. We work hard to identify and...

Ever since we started our San Francisco video production company in 2003, our mission at Corduroy Media has included not only the creation of high quality content for our clients but also an active relationship with the community at large. Sometimes adherence to our...

In case you haven’t caught wind through our recent blog posts and Facebook and Instagram feeds, we’ll just come out and say it: we’re stoked about our new broadcast commercials for Heffernan Insurance Brokers. These two 15-second spots began as little seed ideas right...

Good storytelling has the power to change the world. A compelling story can inspire compassion, hope, and a sense of community. That’s why we at Corduroy Media believe it’s critical to help tell the stories of those who are most in need – like the countless non-profits struggling to survive in this uncertain economy.

Ever watch a big Hollywood blockbuster where the hero walks away from an exploding car? You probably already figured the actor was nowhere near that explosion when it went down. But do you know what magical technology filmmakers use to keep their actors safe from...

If you’ve ever worked with Corduroy Media, then you know that when the creative energy starts flowing, we can get a little…uh…excitable. And when you toss our buddies the Perez Bros into the mix, things are bound to get downright cuckoo around here. Devon and Hart...

At Corduroy Media, clients come to us because they are looking for something different, something that will stand out. They want to break away from traditional marketing content and create branded film content that will be memorable, but it’s not always that easy....

Just under a year ago, Carl wrote this blog post about Corduroy Media finally setting down some roots for our video production company in Oakland. That was the day we first began to frame out the facilities in the new building, and a lot has happened since then. Now...

Sometimes the simplest ideas can have the biggest impact. And while we at Corduroy Media certainly believe that’s true, we also know that in video production simplicity requires precision, planning, and a high level of creativity to really work. In other words, while...

By now, you probably know that at Corduroy Media, we’re pretty gung-ho about the collaborative nature of our work. But if you stop by our video production studio in Oakland, there is always the chance that you’ll find one of us working alone in a room with the door...

The Art of Storyboarding: Q&A with Storyboard Artist Joe Bernados Think about the last movie you saw. How many names would you say rolled over the screen during the closing credits? Did you even make it through the credits? Clearly, filmmaking is a collaborative...

If you’ve ever attempted to make a video with a story arc, then you probably already know the importance of storyboards. Sure, it’s fun to record 10 solid minutes of your overweight cat attempting to jump up onto the kitchen counter, but that’s very different than...

Behind The Scenes: Building Branded Content with Layered Animation and Aruba Networks When Aruba Networks asked us to create their new brand video, they basically gave us one simple instruction: As a newly acquired division of HPE, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, they...

So We’re Funny, It Seems When we started Corduroy Media, we didn’t actually set out to create comedy, but somewhere along the way, we discovered the fun of being funny. And not only have we had a good time, but we’ve also gotten some pretty cool recognition. You...

When a 90-year-old company decides to shift their marketing approach from B2B to B2C, it’s a really big deal. Business-to-business and business-to-consumer are two totally different approaches to selling a product. One focuses on the logic of how the product saves the...

Brands – and the marketers who love them – are always looking for new and interesting approaches for their content marketing strategy. But their audience keeps shifting on them, moving from TV to the web to mobile …

Our team at Corduroy Media is comprised of some seriously talented people. We are grateful to work with the best and brightest in the Bay and then providing opportunity for them to unleash their talents on client projects. Crescent Diamond, the lead editor on our...

Ask just about anyone involved in marketing what their biggest challenge is and they’ll likely say “engagement” before you can finish your sentence. Everyone wants engagement from their content, but not everyone is sure how to get it. These days Virtual Reality (VR)...

It’s not every day a man gets to help a gorgeous woman throw a dramatic temper tantrum in a beautiful way. But when you direct music videos, your life is made of some enviable moments that ordinary mortals just don’t get to have. So, go ahead and start envying...

At Corduroy Media, we’re storytellers. It’s who we are and what drives all of us to come into work each day. Our creative and documentary storytelling approach to video production is also what our clients like most about us. Sometimes the stories our clients want to...

In an era where content is king, Corduroy Media is always looking for new and innovative ways to display great content. That’s why we were excited to bring our photo and video production to UCSF’s Interactive Video Display Donor Wall. In 2015, The UCSF...

Aruba Brand Identity Video: Our Vision Our dear friends at Aruba Networks approached us to conceptualize and produce a new brand identity video that represents their hold on the forefront of technology as today’s leading innovators of mobile and IOT. We...

We are so pumped about the recent recognition that we got for a commercial project with new client, UC Hastings. Above the Law, a well regarded law blog, named one of our two commercial videos, The Greatest Law School Commercial Ever. UC Hastings came to us wanting to...

A Permanent Home for Corduroy Media in Oakland: From San Francisco, to Berkeley, Oakland and Emeryville, Corduroy Media has moved a lot over the last 13 years. From spare bedrooms to small studios we have been fortunate to always find a home that gave us space to work...

Last week the Corduroy Media team found new respect for eyelashes. In a San Francisco studio, Corduroy Media met with Reese Roberts Beauty to film an instructional video on how to create dazzling eyes. The crew had a blast working with the client and design crew to...

Last year Corduroy Media partnered with Director Brandon Mason to shoot his short film “STAKES” in Birmingham, Alabama. Along with providing gear and support for the camera department, Carl D. Brown, Corduroy Media’s Executive Creative Director, shot...

Carl and Sean just spent the late winter and spring on the road. Apparently there were spottings of the duo in Paris, Omaha, Boulder, Raleigh, Charlotte, Maine, New York, Chicago, and Boston. Who knows where we will be next? One thing is for certain- Andrew sure is...

Corduroy Media, a San Francisco Video Production and San Francisco Photography company, has been bending time with a timelapse dolly. We have always enhanced our storytelling using timelapse imagery to explore light, scene, and movement. That’s why we were...

Wheww! What a year! Our team is so stoked that we were able to produce all the content in this reel last year. From corporate, commercial, music, and documentary videos, to animation and still photography, our creative team worked overtime to bring our client’s...

We love working with the guys from Midi Matilda: Logan Grime and Skyler Kilborn. We had the opportunity to shoot a Live and Acoustic version of “By The Firelight” recently here in the bay. We thought it would make a great Halloween treat. You’ll get...

Corduroy Media recently produced a green screen video production for Mobile Iron at 4th Street Studios in San Francisco. From the get-go we knew we wanted to combine our dynamic photography with awesome visual effects, and worked with the team at Alchemy...

San Francisco Video Production Company, Corduroy Media recently shot a documentary short for Hughes Telematics. “I’m lucky to be alive.”- Paul Morris Powerful words from a man who credits the Mbrace system by Hughes Telematics with saving his life....

San Francisco Video Production, Photography, and Animation Company Corduroy Media recently had the opportunity to produce a day in the life short documentary style video on Olympic Swimmer Nathan Adrian. U.S.A. Swimming (the National organization that governs...

San Francisco Video Production and Still Photography company Corduroy Media recently had the awesome opportunity of producing a commercial photography shoot for O’Lover Hats, based in Oakland, California. Elwyn Crawford, the founder of the company, is...

San Francisco Video Production Company Corduroy Media was blessed to work with upcoming director Brandon Mason on the new Alvin Garrett music video “Never Gonna Find.” The project was a blast … and a lot of hard work… We got done in a single...

When Uncle Carl told me that B. Mason was coming by our office to talk to me, I was really excited. Brandon Mason is a director who’s made a lot of short films and hip-hop music videos. I was excited about it not only because I really like his work, but also because...

The other day, I was talking with Uncle Carl about how you make music videos. He said the whole process was simple. I had already seen the first side of it at the Neurofocus shoot. After that, the rest is on the computer. You add audio and edit the video to a finished...

As we walked into the building, I thanked Gehry for inviting us to his work. Before this, I didn’t even know you could bring outsiders within the Apple base. Gehry Oatey is one of my Uncle’s closest friends and since I came to Oakland we’ve hung out a few times. Then...

Another day interning with us, here at Corduroy Media, we were able to take Jahi over to our friends at Fantasy Studios for a special tour. We are so blessed to be a part of the Bay Area creative community… Many thanks to Alison Gomer and Fantasy! Here is...

We are blessed this week to have a very special high school intern working with us… Mr. Jahi Salaam – Who just happens to be my favorite nephew. At 14, he is bright, polite and willing to try new things – even if it might take a nudge or two...

Time Magazine is always in need for original story ideas. Corduroy Media has been a consistent contributor to the magazine’s online news site Time.com for the past three years. We have also produced pieces of video and photojournalism for Time Warner Cable, MTV,...

We recently produced a series of lifestyle photography images and a web-based commercial for a local yoga instructor, lucid dawn, to be used to promote her yoga studio. We began by scouting two unique locations near our studio in Berkeley. We decided to continue on...

Here at Corduroy Media, our team specializes in producing powerful photography from concept to completion. Our San Francisco Bay Area studio provides creative direction when it comes to visually illustrating an idea, whether the results are to be applied in the...

The Corduroy Media team recently shot some test footage of the beautiful Sequoia trees found in the Oakland hills. Having this treasure trove of natural beauty so close to our urban environment is a true gift and we wanted to pay tribute with a short video. We began...

The average American is inundated by media messages constantly. Whether it is electronic billboards, facebook targeted ads, or the television commercial, there is an ongoing competition for our attention. The non-profit world faces a similar dilemma. The need for...

Always looking for new ways to build community and meet creative folks in the film and video industry last year I joined BAPVA, Bay Area Professional Videographers Association down in San Jose. The group was great! Talented producers, engaging and informative speakers...

I began working in video production, and ultimately started Corduroy Media, because I saw the power of media, specifically film and video, to educate thousands of people simultaneously. Knowing that not everyone had access to the video production tools needed to...

Like many video producers and shooters all over the world, I have been fascinated by the depth of field and image quality of the new generation of DSLR still cameras with full resolution HD video. Running a small video production company in the Bay Area, I am always...

For ten months last year I worked with MTV’s Choose or Lose Campaign covering social and political stories that affect the youth of California. Along with winning an Emmy, one of the great pleasures of this assignment was working with Ocean Macadams. Ocean, the...

The above video spot from 16X9 news features an interview and B-roll that Erin Beach and I (Carl Brown) shot with Exorcist Father Gary Thomas. While we offer full production services, from concept development, to shooting, and post-production, as media production...

It is not everyday that I get a call to shoot an interview with an exorcist, in fact this was a first. Working with producer Erin Beach from Kickflip Media, we drove down to Saratoga last Friday morning and found a very modern, sun washed, Catholic church. Far from...

I am very excited about our up-coming production with Wardrobe for Opportunity. This Oakland based non-profit provides professional clothing for men and women that are starting a new career and may not have the resources to purchase a new wardrobe. Since 1995,...

One of the greatest benefits that I received screening “2nd Verse” last year at film festivals was all of the fantastic people that I met. One of the most vibrant, energetic and supportive film festival directors that I got to know was Jane Sullivan. Jane...

2009 has turned out to be a year of interesting projects with Berkeley based non-profit, Connect Ed California. One of our latest documentary projects, working with producer Dave Yanofsky, centers around an Oakland School of the Arts high school student that is...

I am very stoked to announce the new show that I am producing for GuitarTricks.com. Guitar Tricks is an on-line resource for Guitar Players, offering video based guitar lessons to players all over the world from the super advanced to the very basic beginner. Last week...

As a professional filmmaker and freelance video producer I am always looking for opportunities to sharpen my skills. I am constantly challenging myself to increase the production value of my work. Even on low-budget jobs, I strive to get the most clear and dynamic...

I am very excited to announce a fun new project with the dedicated rockers at Guitar Tricks. Guitartricks.com is an interactive destination website that provides useful and super easy to follow on-line guitar lessons. All of the lessons are broken up into manageable...

Yosimar Reyes: “for colored boys who speak softly” I have had the pleasure of working with Yosimar since he was 16. Now, at 21, he is releasing his first solo book of spoken word poetry “for colored boys who speak softly.” This video is...

ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career is a new non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and expanding pathways that prepare students for college and career, not one or the other. By pioneering groundbreaking school programs and...

As I mentioned in the last post I recently joined BAPVA, Bay Area Professional Videographers Association. At my first meeting we were fortunate enough to discuss technology and future trends with Jay Holben. Jay spoke about some of the advances that he saw in HD...

After my busiest year ever, with little time to meet other video professionals I decided to start this year off with the goal of meeting more professionals in the field. I took a chance on a long running group of Bay Area professional videographers called BAPVA....

Along with providing video production services to a variety of commercial and non-profit clients I often teach Video Production Workshops for TILT and other educational groups. TILT (Teaching Intermedia Literacy Tools) works within schools and community-based programs...

We recently completed an educational DVD highlighting a unique and effective curriculum developed by Melrose Leadership Academy. After 6 months of shooting on location at the Oakland School we spent several months editing the various show segments for the DVD. While...

I am very excited to announce that Corduroy Media will be producing a short documentary and fundraising video for The African Great Lakes Initiative in Kenya, Africa this August. As one of the Friends Peace Teams projects, the initiative teaches individuals and groups...